PART III.
The Chairman of the Cotton Section, in thanking the members
of the Entomological and Mycological Section for the assistance and
information they had given at this meeting to the members of the
Cotton Section, laid great emphasis on the desirability of the members
of the Cotton Section doing all in their power to help the
Entomologists in their most difficult and varied problems.
Signed on behalf of the Cotton Section,
S. MILLIGAN, Chairman.
Nairobi,
27th of August, 1926.
CHAPTER II
AN ORGANIZATION OF MARKETING IN A YOUNG
COTTON INDUSTRY.
(This item was dealt with by the Cotton and Agricultural
Sections jointly.)
Mr. KIRBY made a statement as follows: —
(Circulated to the Conference as paper No. T.C.(C)Cot.8).
In Tanganyika Territory the war made it necessary to start the
cotton industry afresh; and for this a system of auction markets for
native seed-cotton was introduced in 1922 into most of the districts
where seed-cotton was grown, the scheme being extended to other
districts as is shown in the table at the end of this paper, as more
staff in the Agricultural Department became available. The purposes
of the adoption of this system (applicable of course in an area only
as long as its output of cotton is comparatively small) were: (1) to
ensure by close competition among buyers a fair price to the native
producer; (2) to supply a means of teaching and controlling directly
the sorting of cotton by natives.
In the first stage the method employed was to advertise the date
of the periodical auction sales, and at these the Agricultural Officer
issued tickets, for the seed-cotton brought by natives and weighed in
by him, each bearing particulars of the weight. The seed-cotton in
its different grades was then put up to auction in lots of a weight
convenient to buyers; the value of each small parcel as delivered was
calculated in accordance with the price obtained at auction; and the
native sellers were paid for their seed-cotton by the Agricultural
Officer on the day of sale, or at the latest the day after.
As the output of native cotton quickly increased it became
impossible for the periodical auction markets to be conducted in this
detailed way, and the scheme was widened by putting up to auction
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